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spitzig's review against another edition
3.0
I liked the book. Nothing mind blowing, but it was fun. Decent characters, though I don't think I really liked anyone. I don't think you're expected to.
tani's review against another edition
4.0
This book has been on my radar for quite some time. I hadn't really read a summary in recent years, but I had this image in my head of something like Piers Anthony's Xanth series, but maybe less sexist. You know, light and humorous fantasy with lots of puns and playing with traditional fantasy tropes. Which was kind of accurate, but also really not. You see, Sir Apropos of Nothing is actually much more dark than I ever suspected. There are some majorly bad things that happen, such as gang rape, murder, bullying, etc. They are not presented positively, but they are major parts of the story, and if they are things you prefer to avoid, then I suggest that this book is probably not for you.
For me, though, it turned out really well. I traditionally struggle with more humorous fantasy, with authors like Terry Pratchett being very hit or miss for me. But Peter David's writing had just enough darkness and satire to it to actually make parts of it very funny to me. Also, I found the random puns scattered throughout to be a real treat. I love wordplay like that, it really floated my boat here.
The main character, Apropos, was also really great. I'll warn you right now; he's a jerk and a coward. He will make decisions based on saving his own skin, and they will be terrible things to do to another person. And yet, I really grew to like him anyway. Admittedly, it was a kind of mocking affection. Things would blow up in his face, and I would just sit back and laugh at him. I found myself talking to him all the time, partially because I listened to this book on audio, and partially because I was just so wrapped up in the story and couldn't help but respond. Apropos really feels like a real person, and that made the entire experience of listening to his story just that much more enjoyable.
I was also very impressed by the pacing. It's a longer book, but a lot happens in it. I think the slowest part is the section on Apropos's childhood, but that serves as a vital set-up to the rest of the book, but the rest of it flows quickly from one disaster to the next. In the last quarter of the book, when things looked like they were just about to be wrapped up, I started to get a little confused. It seemed like a happy ending for all, so why did I still have hours left to listen? Well, turns out that things could go completely wrong several more times! Every time I thought the action was dying down, it ramped right back up again.
Finally, I have to mention the audiobook. I listened to a GraphicAudio version of this story. For those who don't know, GraphicAudio does different voice actors for different characters and sound effects in background. It's kind of like listening to a TV show. At first, I wasn't a huge fan. I thought that some of the background noises were terribly distracting, and for the first hour or so I wasn't sure that I would be able to continue with it. However, once I got used to it, it really grew on me a lot. Now, I feel like the GraphicAudio version of the story truly lent the story depth and entertainment value that I might not have gotten just from reading the book. So, if you like audiobooks, I'd definitely recommend this as a possible audio read!
For me, though, it turned out really well. I traditionally struggle with more humorous fantasy, with authors like Terry Pratchett being very hit or miss for me. But Peter David's writing had just enough darkness and satire to it to actually make parts of it very funny to me. Also, I found the random puns scattered throughout to be a real treat. I love wordplay like that, it really floated my boat here.
The main character, Apropos, was also really great. I'll warn you right now; he's a jerk and a coward. He will make decisions based on saving his own skin, and they will be terrible things to do to another person. And yet, I really grew to like him anyway. Admittedly, it was a kind of mocking affection. Things would blow up in his face, and I would just sit back and laugh at him. I found myself talking to him all the time, partially because I listened to this book on audio, and partially because I was just so wrapped up in the story and couldn't help but respond. Apropos really feels like a real person, and that made the entire experience of listening to his story just that much more enjoyable.
I was also very impressed by the pacing. It's a longer book, but a lot happens in it. I think the slowest part is the section on Apropos's childhood, but that serves as a vital set-up to the rest of the book, but the rest of it flows quickly from one disaster to the next. In the last quarter of the book, when things looked like they were just about to be wrapped up, I started to get a little confused. It seemed like a happy ending for all, so why did I still have hours left to listen? Well, turns out that things could go completely wrong several more times! Every time I thought the action was dying down, it ramped right back up again.
Finally, I have to mention the audiobook. I listened to a GraphicAudio version of this story. For those who don't know, GraphicAudio does different voice actors for different characters and sound effects in background. It's kind of like listening to a TV show. At first, I wasn't a huge fan. I thought that some of the background noises were terribly distracting, and for the first hour or so I wasn't sure that I would be able to continue with it. However, once I got used to it, it really grew on me a lot. Now, I feel like the GraphicAudio version of the story truly lent the story depth and entertainment value that I might not have gotten just from reading the book. So, if you like audiobooks, I'd definitely recommend this as a possible audio read!
mamap's review against another edition
3.0
truly not sure what to think of this book. an adult book with adult themes and cruelty, but nothing blatant or rude. a young man conceived through gang rape and born with a lame leg so his view of the world is crooked and he acts upon those feelings and doesn't alway choose the right. and yet, he's making choices the best he can. he does the right thing most of the time, but always for selfish reasons. thought provoking. also very sarcastic!
very much "rosencrantz and gildenstern are dead" type.
very much "rosencrantz and gildenstern are dead" type.
ratgirlreads's review against another edition
2.0
Peter David tells a story composed of a number of epic hero, romantic, fairy tale-type tropes lived out by the opposite of an epic hero, a supposedly self-interested, unchivalrous fellow with a lame leg. The writing is clumsy and unnecessarily verbose, the dialogue occasionally improbable, and the characterizations often inexplicably inconsistent for a book with so much overt character analysis. However, the various elements of the plot all come together for a not unsatisfying ending and the book is a fun, distracting read, requiring little thought or introspection.
sam_smith_of_tencendor's review against another edition
Re read
Wasn't feeling it halfway through
Wasn't feeling it halfway through
storytimed's review against another edition
2.0
Absolutely vile. Some moments of compelling intrigue, but way too self-important and in love with its protagonist, and excessively rapey. Did not like.
kittenscribble's review against another edition
2.0
Typical fantasy adventure stuff. Great puns, great humor, but I hated the main character too much to enjoy the story. He's a bit too realistic -- selfish, hateful, cowardly, dishonest -- and yet everything still works out for him. Offends my sense of justice.
beccagomezfarrell's review against another edition
4.0
This is the first of a two-part fantasy farce. Lots of punning, lots of cynicism, but also a surprisingly intriguing thinkpiece on claiming the mantle of "hero."
pkrawr's review against another edition
5.0
This is an imaginative and detailed book featuring my current favorite anti-hero who also happens to be disabled. It works on so many levels, I can't imagine it being shorter. I look forward to reading more about Apropos' adventures.
mgagermeier's review against another edition
5.0
This book is seriously fucked up, and I loved every second of it. The main character is selfish, morally bankrupt, and pretty much entirely self serving, but he's so brutally funny that you still kinda want him to come out, if not on top, at least reasonably ok. others say that he's completely unrelatable as a character, but I think that's just because we fantasy fans want to believe in the innate goodness of humanity, that we all would rise to be the hero. In Apropos, I think we have the truest representation of how a real person would react to a given set of circumstances.
Even more, I loved that the princess, Entipy, actually had a personality. she wasn't the naive waif who waits for her hero (mostly, anyway) and drops little tidbits about love and kindness defeating evil. she's stubborn, and a smartass, a bit sadistic, and generally all "fuck yeah I'm gonna go ride those unicorns, try and stop me." she's gonna make the worst Queen, it's hysterical.
Watch out for the plot twist at the end, it's a whammy.
Even more, I loved that the princess, Entipy, actually had a personality. she wasn't the naive waif who waits for her hero (mostly, anyway) and drops little tidbits about love and kindness defeating evil. she's stubborn, and a smartass, a bit sadistic, and generally all "fuck yeah I'm gonna go ride those unicorns, try and stop me." she's gonna make the worst Queen, it's hysterical.
Watch out for the plot twist at the end, it's a whammy.